Participation
The roar of the crowd as you enter the stadium
or streak past the winning post surely has a profound influence on
your performance. The surge of adrenaline, the will to win, and the
shared experience for both athlete and spectator: what’s going on
in the brain is the theme for this series of events.
We explore the competitive
spirit that exists in athletes. In teams or in solo
sports, the relationship between athlete and coach fine-tunes
natural talent and the drive to succeed.
Dis-ability reveals the extraordinary
determination of people with disabilities to overcome adversity.
Martial arts, seated in a tradition of combat,
demand the harmony of body and mind. Sport would be nothing without
the sporting minds of the spectator. What turns
mild-mannered people into raging bulls, and what impact does crowd
behaviour – whether excited or angry – have on the athlete?
This series was produced by Elaine Snell.
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Thursday 10 May. Athletes and scientists explore what produces competitive spirit. Find out what motivates you.
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Thursday 7 June. Discussing and demonstrating sporting ability and physical disability.
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Saturday 9 June. A day of discovery of ancient forms of developing physical, mental and spiritual health.
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Thursday 26 July. Exploring the mind of the spectator.
Image: Steve Prefontaine in a
post-Olympic 2-mile race by The Happy Rower on Flickr.